Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-11-24


charms before he made up his mind as
to the best manner of shutting of this
mortal G ii. and finally decided not to
force it off at all until he should be
forced to; and the first one. by my
sage advice. concluded to sleep on his
suicidal thoughts. He did sleep on
them, and completely smothered not
only all thoughts of suicide, but his
fame for Miss Bernard as well
Knowing how harmlessly the fevered
madness had affected my other friends,
l wisely determined to keep Clarence's
letter while. patiently awaiting fur
Their developments. The sequel proved
the advantage of experience; for, two
nights later he came into my room
with face whose palor and wretched-
ness had magically disappeared.
Fred" he asked, rather falteringly,
Ibid you post my letter to Bessie?'
"You desired me to forward it as
soon as possible" answered, equivoc-
ally.
'T'm the most miserable fool alive!'
he cried despairingly. Il wish some
body would knock my brains out
brains? I haven't any to knock out!
Oh, Fred, I'd give every dollar I pos
sess not to have written that letter.
why? l thought it was gem of a
letter for man who desires to be off
with the old love before he is on with
the new"
don't want to be on with the new.
1 wouldn't give Bessie for million
Blanch Bernards Why is it we can
never know how blessed we are until
we have lost the one thing that makes
life worth living?"
"Our primeval curse, Adam and
Ewes legacy to u.s." answered. laugh
ingly. ''What troubles you now?
Have you no longer any Mormonistic
fancy for two wives?."
IF you please. Fred, don't chaff
about it. am too wretched to endure
it with patience. Do you think, Fred,
if 1 would write another letter, ex-
planatory, asking to be reinstated in
my old position, that Bessie would
pardon my brief defection?"
ut is possible. But what has come
over the spirit of your love-dream that
you are so quickly disillusioned. I
knew that if your fever could run on
for a month or two longer before it
reached the crisis of proposal that
you would come out of it all right, but
1 am as much surprised as pleased at
your speedy return to your senses"
WELL" he said, coloring wildly
"ton't laugh, please-well, called on
Blanch last night She never looked
loFelier. l have seen more beautiful
women. but I swear l never saw a
more fascinating one. She received
me, as she always does, with open
arms, as a figure of speech, you under
stand, and made herself as charming
as possible. She sang to me, she
played to me. she enchanted me and
fooled me, like nineteenth century
Vivien, until l lost the little sense that
remained to me. And 1 had opened
my lips-actually opened my lips to
ask her to marry me, when the front
parlor door opened. At this stage of
the comedy VIC were sitting in the
moonlight in the back parlor. and
Glenn cried, hastily and abruptly:
81 say. Blanch, cousin julie wants
your paints and stuff. She wants to
make whited sepulcher of herself for
Captain O'Neil's benefit like you do
for Mr.. Ashford's. She's got an en-
gagement with him, and the nights so
warm and her face SO shiny she thought
little powder on her nose would inn
prove matters. She told me to be in
dickens of hurry and
"'That's enough Glenn Miss
Blanch interrupted. laughingly = as
for me. Fred, l fell like Don Juan
must have felt when the statute of the
Commander invited him to supper
well dispense with any more of your
pleasantries for tonight. The boy IS
a most inveterate practical joker. Mr..
Ashford, and nothing delights him
more than to tease me. Knowing you
were with me, he got up this little inn
promptu for your benefit as well as
mine
''But her laugh sounded, to my sus-
picious mind, forced and embarrassed.
And when she uttered my name, l
heard suppressed smoker and an as
tonished interjcction fror' Glenn as he
hurriedly fled from the S 'ne that con-
vinced me he had suspicion of my pres
ence. Twas convinced beyond doubt
later, for having left my cane behind
mel had no design in leaving that
useful article of bric-a-bra behind me,
but the exciting episode l have mar
rated upset my nerves and made me
absent minded returned to get it. /
quietly entered the vestibule intending
to reclaim my property and depart
without announcing my presence to
Miss Blanch. and heard her voice in
an angry alteration with her brother
that disgusted me and disenchanted
me at once. What . remarkable tai
ent some men have for mendacity.
Fred! hastily left the house without
attempting to recover my cane. think